Now seems like a good time to review that draft class, and it’s not pretty.

Round 1: Pick No. 30 – DT Vernon Butler

Former general manager Dave Gettleman should never have used this pick on an interior lineman to begin with. The team had other more pressing needs in the trenches (offensive tackle, defensive end to name a couple) and he went with a luxury pick to reinforce a position that was already strong.

This nightclub incident is a red flag but it’s unlikely the team will cut Butler over a misdemeanor, especially if it’s a first offense. As far as football goes, Butler has had his moments during his time on the field. However, he has not made enough of an impact to justify where he was selected. Not even close.

The decision to sign Dontari Poe sends a clear message that Butler has not yet developed the way the team would have liked. If either Poe or Kawann Short get injured this year, Butler has to step up and contribute in a meaningful way or else there’s a good chance the team won’t pick up his fifth-year option.

Round 2: Pick No. 62 – CB James Bradberry

Right now Bradberry looks like the best pick of this class, and that’s a pretty sad state of affairs. Bradberry’s coverage has been inconsistent and his ball skills seem to be lacking for such a high pick. So far, he has four interceptions and 20 passes defensed. While those numbers aren’t terrible, considering the number of times he’s been targeted, they’re a bit short. Bradberry is a good tackler and run defender but he gets burned by faster wide receivers too often.

By attempting to sign free agent Bashaud Breeland and later adding Ross Cockrell, the Panthers are signaling that Bradberry also hasn’t lived up to their expectations.

Round 3: Pick No. 77 – CB Daryl Worley

If Bradberry has been inconsistent so far, Worley was a total bust by comparison. For a corner with his length, Worley’s coverage skills are not up to par and he’s not fast enough to recover once his man has a step on him. Perhaps his reaction time has been slowed by hangovers. Perhaps he’s just not as quick as he needs to be at this level.

In any case, he’s no longer Carolina’s problem. The Eagles cut Worley shortly after trading for him following an incident with Philadelphia police. He’ll now be suiting up for Jon Gruden and the Raiders.

Round 5: Pick No. 141 – CB Zack Sanchez

The hole left behind by Josh Norman was significant, but going back to the cornerback well for a third time was another unforgivable mistake by Gettleman in this draft. The pick itself was bad enough – Sanchez has not produced much on the field and has been cut a couple times already.

Round 7: Pick No. 252 – TE Beau Sandland

Seventh-round picks usually don’t make much of an impact, but Sandland still hasn’t played in a real game yet. This year he’ll play for Steve Wilks’ Cardinals.

A big issue is that Gettleman values the “quality” of draft picks over quantity. From 2013 to 2016, the Panthers only had 21 total picks, slightly more than five per year. Everything we know about success in the draft says that’s the wrong way to do things. The more picks you have, the more likely you are to find a contributor. Gettleman’s less-is-more approach handicapped Carolina’s ability to replenish its roster, which is part of the reason a major rebuild is coming soon.

There is still time for both Butler and Bradberry to prove themselves, but right now this particular draft class is on its way to being one of the worst in franchise history.